Customs intercepts 15,375 litres of petrol, warns smugglers of tougher crackdown in Kwara

 

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), through its Operation Whirlwind, has intercepted 15,375 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), valued at N15.37 million, at various border communities in the Niger-Kwara axis, warning petroleum smugglers of intensified enforcement operations.

The seizure, involving 615 jerrycans of 25 litres each, was recorded during intelligence-led operations targeting smuggling networks and illegal diversion of petroleum products across strategic border locations in Kwara State.

The National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Mahmood Bello Ishidi, disclosed this on Wednesday during a public auction of the intercepted products at the Kwara Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service in Ilorin.

Ishidi, who spoke on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, identified Kaiama, Shiya, Kenu, Boriya, Luma, Baruten, Ilesha-Baruba, Taberu and Salla-Gwanara as some of the locations where the petroleum products were intercepted.

He said the seizures, with a combined Duty Paid Value of N15,375,000, demonstrated the commitment of the Customs Service to protecting Nigeria’s economic interests and preventing the illegal movement of petroleum products across the country’s borders.

Describing petroleum smuggling as economic sabotage, Ishidi warned that the illegal trade undermined government revenue, disrupted domestic supply chains and contributed to artificial scarcity and increased prices of petroleum products.

“Beyond depriving the nation of critical revenue, it distorts the supply chain, leading to scarcity and inflated costs that unfairly burden honest Nigerians,” he said.

He further warned that petroleum smuggling strengthened organised criminal networks, weakened border security and posed wider threats to national security.

The National Coordinator explained that the public auction was designed to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of seized petroleum products, while reflecting the government’s commitment to the prudent handling of recovered national resources.

He also pledged to strengthen intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, operational supervision and enforcement strategies to consolidate the achievements of Operation Whirlwind.

“As the newly appointed National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, I reaffirm my unwavering commitment to providing purposeful and strategic leadership, enhancing operational effectiveness, and consolidating on the gains and achievements already recorded by the operation,” he stated.

Ishidi commended the Comptroller-General of Customs and the management of the Service for their support, while acknowledging the contributions of the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to the fight against petroleum smuggling.

He also praised the Acting Controller of the Kwara Area Command, Deputy Comptroller Najeem Akanmu Ogundeyi, and officers of Operation Whirlwind in the Niger-Kwara axis for their professionalism and dedication.

The Customs chief called on residents of border communities to support security agencies by providing credible and timely information about suspicious movements and activities.

“The fight against smuggling is a collective responsibility, and your support remains indispensable in protecting the nation’s economic stability,” he appealed.

Earlier, the Acting Area Controller of the Kwara Command, Deputy Comptroller Najeem Akanmu Ogundeyi, stressed the importance of sustained cooperation among security agencies and other stakeholders in tackling smuggling and related economic crimes.

Ogundeyi, who welcomed Ishidi, representatives of sister security agencies, stakeholders and journalists to the Command’s headquarters in Ilorin, described inter-agency collaboration as a major factor in achieving national security and economic objectives.

He commended the sister security agencies for their longstanding partnership with the Customs Service, noting that their presence at the event despite the short notice demonstrated their commitment to shared national interests.

“I sincerely commend and appreciate our sister agencies, who have remained reliable partners in synergy and collaborative efforts for a very long period of time,” he said.

He added that their attendance underscored the importance of collective action in addressing security and economic challenges.

The Acting Controller also acknowledged the contributions of the media to the public understanding of Customs operations, particularly in reporting the Service’s activities and achievements to Nigerians across different communities.

“Your invaluable support and resilience through amplifying the Service’s efforts and achievements to the larger public, as well as to the nooks and crannies of various communities across the nation, can never be overemphasised,” Ogundeyi told journalists.

He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to maintaining cordial relationships with its stakeholders and partners, stressing that effective information sharing, cooperation and public awareness remained essential to the success of anti-smuggling operations.

The event brought together the leadership of Operation Whirlwind, Customs officers, representatives of sister security agencies, stakeholders and members of the media.

Ishidi assured Nigerians that Operation Whirlwind would intensify surveillance, intelligence gathering and enforcement across its operational areas to frustrate petroleum smugglers, strengthen border security and safeguard the nation’s economic interests.